Government funding extension signed

Washington  President Clinton signed a third short-term bill to keep the government running while budget negotiations continue in Congress.

"Congress needs to finish its work and send me a budget," the president said in a statement Saturday.

"Let me serve notice now: If Congress fails to meet this deadline, any further extensions must be at most for a very few days."

President Clinton

He signed the temporary extension, or continuing resolution, to keep federal agencies open through Oct. 21. The new budget year began Oct. 1.

The president noted that Congress has completed work on only eight of 13 spending bills. He signed the latest extension on Friday night.

"Let me serve notice now: If Congress fails to meet this deadline, any further extensions must be at most for a very few days," Clinton said.

As with the earlier extensions, Clinton criticized lawmakers for failing to act on budget priorities such as education. He said a bipartisan majority in the House is ready to pass legislation for school construction tax credits, but the Republican leadership refuses to bring it to a vote.

"It's time for Congress to act," Clinton said. "It's unfair to ask America's children to lift themselves up in school buildings that are falling down."

He also said Republican lawmakers haven't set enough aside in their budget to hire new teachers and reduce class sizes.

"At this time of unprecedented prosperity, there is no reason we can't put partisanship aside and make the investments we know will move our nation forward, especially in the education of our children," Clinton said.